Headstone Project fears funding shortfall in Australia
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The South Australian branch of the Headstone Project worries the federal government will not deliver the funding it promised before the 2022 election.
The organisation locates unmarked graves of Australian soldiers who fought in World War I and places headstones on them to recognise their service. John Brownlie, president of the SA branch, stated that each headstone costs around $1,500, and the government previously contributed $620 per grave through grants.
Before the election, the Labor party pledged $3.7 million nationally to the Headstone Project. However, recent budget papers indicate only $1.4 million over five years has been allocated to memorial initiatives, including the grant program the project relies on. Grant guidelines show just $58,000 is available nationally for the current financial year, a figure the Headstone Project SA believes is too low given prior commitments.
Ian Hopley, a volunteer with the organisation, explained that his team identifies potential veteran graves by examining cemetery records and cross-referencing them with national archives. The South Australian branch has already placed headstones for nearly 200 veterans, but approximately 500 more remain unidentified. The Headstone Project intends to continue its work as long as it receives adequate funding and support.
